Ezra ‘Tshisa’ thanks Vungu for support
By Tichaona Sibanda
Popular disk jockey turned politician, Ezra ‘Tshisa’ Sibanda, on Wednesday scooped the right to stand as an MDC-T parliamentary candidate for Vungu, following his convincing victory in the party primaries.
Sibanda polled 752 votes to beat his closest contender Mark Moyo who polled 245, while Senzeni Mpofu managed a paltry three votes. The primary elections in the Midlands South province also produced some interesting results.
Elected to stand on an MDC-T ticket in Mberengwa North was Takavafira Zhou, the President of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ). A young medical doctor, Cumming Hove got the nod to fight former ZBC-TV reporter and ZANU PF MP for Mberengwa East, Makosini Hlongwane in the general elections.
It is the election of Sibanda however that has set tongues wagging both inside and outside the country. Once a popular MC in the flashy nightspots of Bulawayo, Sibanda has transformed himself from Master of Ceremonies to a political newcomer, who never hesitates to say what’s on his mind.
The former Radio 2 DJ will join former radio and TV personalities Eric ‘The General’ Knight and James ‘Junior 3’ Maridadi who also prevailed in the MDC-T primaries.
An elated Sibanda thanked the people of Vungu for electing him and assured them he will work with the community to bring development to the area. He said if elected to parliament, he will put the road network rehabilitation on top of his development agenda.
He expressed his sadness that the Vungu constituency has remained undeveloped since independence, blaming the ZANU PF regime of neglecting the area despite being in power for 33 years.
Sibanda, who is likely to battle it out against Josphat Madubeko of ZANU PF in the elections, promised the people of Vungu that an MDC-T government led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai would do everything possible within its means to increase development.
‘I have safely negotiated the first hurdle; the hard work begins with working hard to dislodge ZANU PF from Vungu. I urge the electorate to vote MDC-T so that development could be accelerated and not to make a mistake by voting ZANU PF because it is evident they have no capacity to bring development to the area,’ Sibanda.
He continued: ‘Today people are aware. They know what is good or bad for them. The real problem in Vungu is that the government has not been reaching out to the masses.’
The MDC-T holds two parliamentary seats in the province and only Amos Chibaya, the MP for Mkoba, was confirmed by an electoral college in his constituency.
The incumbent legislator for Gweru Urban, Rodrick Rutsvara, failed to get the two thirds required for confirmation and will stand in the primary elections.
Other candidates who were elected to represent the party in the forthcoming elections were Davis Shoko (Mberengwa South), Onismo Manungo (Shurungwi North), Munyaradzi Mutandavari (Shurugwi South), Francisco Masendeke (Chirumanzu), Clever Bhoko (Zvishavane Runde), Ishmael Jeko (Chirumanzu Zibagwe) and Michel Timveous (Zvishavane Ngezi).
The exercise continues in Midlands North Thursday and will move to the three Mashonaland provinces Friday before Manicaland on Saturday. Masvingo will be last, next week. SW Radio Africa
